Life lately has been hectic for us. A new year brings a bunch of fresh starts: a new semester for students, back to school/daycare for littles, new work projects, a desire to clean house, build new healthy habits and plan for the year ahead.
Recently I’ve found myself feeling run down and burnt out. I’ve had a lot of decisions to make regarding housing, schooling, work and of course we’ve been continuously sick for weeks. I feel like we’ve been go go going since New Year’s Day and there aren’t any big breaks on the horizon anytime soon. So what’s a girl to do?
The Best Advice I’ve Gotten on Balance
My therapist used to say: “don’t wait for the big breaks.” Don’t deny yourself the small pleasures of every day because you’re waiting for the tropical vacation, ski trip or holiday break that’s six months away. How can you make the most of the two, ten, or thirty-minute breaks sprinkled throughout your day to refill your cup?
I tend to be an all-or-nothing person so at first I resisted this idea. I didn’t feel like these little moments could truly be rejuvenating! But I’ve come to realize that parenting–and life in general–isn’t meant to be lived as a series of mad dashes to finish lines. It’s one long hike to an unknown destination, so you may as well pause and enjoy the scenery.
Today I’m sharing a few favorite videos/blog posts I’ve collected over the years that make me feel peaceful and centered. I watch one during the few minutes all three kids are asleep, maybe while the older kids have their hands in pots of play dough or I’m nursing a sleeping baby.
My Favorite Little Moments of Calm
- The Minnesota Zoo’s Live Wolf Cam–I think wolves are such beautiful creatures. It’s fascinating and soothing to watch them living their lives in their enclosure at the zoo. A little woodsy cinema that brings a taste of the outdoors, in.
- Happy People: A Year in the Taiga–An old documentary of a year in the life of a rural Siberian village. It’s not very long but it has Little House in the Big Woods vibes for me. There’s something soothing about watching the seasons turn and people go about their rustic lives as usual.
- Daily Connoisseur Homemaking–Jennifer makes YouTube videos on several topics but my favorites are always her voiced-over homemaking videos. I could watch them for hours! If you’ve never watched her channel before, I recommend starting with the solstice rest video, dreamy homemaking and homemaking to keep calm.
- Dear Dreamer–A favorite from the olden days (i.e. when I was in college). It’s three minutes of Michelle Phan telling you to take time for yourself and your dreams 🙂
- Quiet Harvest Season–Or as my toddlers call it, “the jam video.” They’re mesmerized by it. It’s a video of a Norwegian influencer I’ve followed for a while making gooseberry jam, no voiceover, just quiet music. It’s short! Something about watching simple, everyday, homey tasks speaks to my soul.
- Finding Peace in Nature–Another brief video from a small favorite channel. Beautiful winter sunlight and reflecting on the importance of nature in our lives. Camilla is an appreciator of old art, poetry, traditional cooking techniques and vintage decor, and I adore her unique video-making style.
- Southern In-Law Bali Travel Posts–So a trip to Indonesia might not be in my immediate future (more like 10+ years due to small children) but who’s to say I can’t live vicariously through a friend? Scroll down to read Kristy’s recaps of Bali. It’s ten years later and I still like to take virtual tours of the villas on occasion!
- 5-Minute Yoga for Sleep–This is still my favorite way to wind down before bed, far superior to scrolling mindlessly on my phone. It’s the perfect way to get a little extra activity in your day and will leave you feeling refreshed… and sleepy 🙂
- The Wild is Calling My Name–A beautiful original folk-style song by an unpublished songwriter. I listened to this all the time in California. It’s haunting and peaceful.
- Jonna Jinton vlogs–literally any of them! But I do love to watch her older videos before the channel was quite so popular. The journey to Saltoluokta and part 2 (her stay there) are my favorites. I’m not much of a solo traveler and I can’t Nordic ski, but who’s to say I can’t pretend for a few minutes?
The Power of a Muse
Fiona Ferris talks in her books about the power of an aspirational you. This is not a person you should feel badly about not being–for example, Fiona has an ideal Parisian self despite not actually wanting to live in France. Rather, it’s like having an imaginary friend who motivates you to improve your life in a gentle and caring way.
These “moments of calm” help me to slip into an aspirational self for a few minutes and recharge through make-believe. Using our imaginations is fun but optional as a child–but as an adult it’s essential to maintain that childlike state of mind, to keep life lighthearted and optimistic.
I hope you find a few minutes today to recharge, however that looks for you <3
xx Claire
